2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Players to Watch

2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
 

ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Craig Yanni
Kiani Barnard-Pratt, Sr., GK, Westford, MA/Westford Academy - Barnard Pratt, the 2022 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, 2022 All-E8 first team pick and 2024 All-E8 second team selection, led the Empire 8 in save percentage (.895, tenth nationally) and was second in goals against average (.566) in 2024. She has 275 saves, a 0.90 goals against average and an .865 save percentage in three seasons with the Saxons

Sidney Kuhns, Jr., M, Spencerport, NY/Spencerport - Kuhns was an offensive leader for the Saxons in 2024, recording eight points on two goals and four assists.

SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Mike Idland
Amelia Breton, Jr., M, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili - Breton was a 2024 All-Empire 8 first team selection and United Soccer Coaches All-Region second team pick. She totaled 16 points on eight goals and was top-10 in the conference in shots, goals, and shots on goal.

Lyndsey Miller, Sr., M/D, Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs - Miller was the 2024 E8 Defensive Player of the Year, while also earning first team All-Conference and All-Region accolades. She finished her season with three goals and one assist, as Brockport allowed just 8 goals in 19 games.

ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Bill Kelly
Emily Andersen, Sr., D, Andes, NY/Andes - Andersen scored two goals in 2024 on six shots on goal. She is expected to be a leader on the defensive end.

Faith Ingber, Sr., M, Greenwich, NY/Greenwich - Ingber had six points in her 2024 season with one goal and four assists and is expected to lead the Soaring Eagles on both sides of the field.

SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Nate Wiley
Carly Chupick, Jr., D, Northport, NY/Northport - Chupick had one assist with four shots on goal in 2024. She helped lead a Knights defense with nine shutouts.

Abby Foster, Sr., F, Stony Brook, NY/Ward Melville - Foster was an All-Empire 8 first team selection and United Soccer Coaches third team All-Region selection in 2024. She was third in the conference in goals per game (.476) and first in assists per game (.476), finishing the season with 30 points on 10 goals and 10 assists.

HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Brian Knapp
Trinity Irizarry, Jr., D, Greenwood Lake, NY/Warwick Valley - Irizarry started all but one match for the Hawks in 2024. She was part of a defensive unit that had six shutouts.

Jenna Mierek, Sr., D, Prospect, CT/Woodland Regional - Mierek, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades in 2024. She scored one goal with six assists as a defender and was one of three Hawks to start all 15 games.

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Esther Webb
Taylor Curyto, Jr., M, N. Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili - Curyto was an offensive leader for the Highlanders in 2024. She finished the season with 11 points on five goals and one assist to go along with one game-winning goal. 

Karryne Mims, Jr., F, Jamestown, NY/Jamestown - Mims, the 2023 E8 Rookie of the Year and two-time third team All-Conference selection, had nine points on three goals and three assists last season. Two of her goals were game-winners. She has five game-winning tallies in two seasons.

KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Quintin Rogers
Kelsey Davis, So., M, Nunda, NY/Keshequa - Davis had two assists with three shots on goal in 2024 and will be expected to help lead the Wolves in the midfield this season.

Peyton Steates, Sr., D, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro - Steates, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, held down the Wolves' defense in 2024. She took three shots while helping the defense record two shutouts on the season. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Gail Mann
Taylor Ashe, Sr., D, Canandaigua, NY/Victor - Ashe was a 2024 All-Empire 8 third team selection. In addition to her prowess on defense, she recorded three assists and six shots on goal last season.

Tatum Overton, Sr., F, Watertown, NY/Watertown - Overton has had numerous accoladed in her tenure with the Golden Flyers. She was the 2022 E8 Rookie of the Year, the 2023 E8 Offensive Player of the Year and E8 Tournament MVP. Overton is a three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection, two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection. Overton enters her final season at Nazareth with 54 career points on 23 goals (nine game-winners) and eight assists.

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Colleen McTygue
Brooke Bush, Sr., M, Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth - Bush will be counted on to lead the Wildcats midfield and provide on and off the field leadership in 2025

Auree Smykla, Jr., M, Copenhagen, NY/Copenhagen - Smykla was an offensive leader for the Wildcats in 2024. She finished her season with nine points, scoring four goals with one assist.

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Garrett Cobb
Jaclyn Benedetti, Jr., M, Cohoes, NY/Cohoes - Benedetti, an All-Empire 8 third team selection in 2023 is a strong defensive midfielder who has four assists in two seasons with the Gators over 34 games.

Gianna Viscusi, Sr., F, Duanesburg, NY/Schalmont - Viscusi, an All-Empire 8 third team selection in 2023, enters her fourth season with the Gators, having recorded 20 career points on nine goals and two assists.

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Molly Romano
Ryann Dauksza, Sr., D, Manilus, NY/Fayetteville-Manilus - Dauksza is a three-time All-Empire 8 selection, having garnered first team accolades in 2024 and second team plaudits in 2022 and 2023. She tallied three goals and an assist last season and has appeared in 45 career games for the Cardinals.

Madelyn Wania, Sr., F, Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa - Wania was an All-Empire 8 first team selection and garnered United Soccer Coaches All-Region third team honors in 2024. She led the league in shots per game (4.16), shots on goal per game (2.26) and tied for second in total assists (9) and assists per game (.474). She totaled six goals and nine assists for 21 points on the season.

UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Brooke Barbuto
Rylee Lamphere, Sr., M, Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville - Lamphere garnered All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2024 after tallying seven points on three goals and an assist. Lamphere, who was also an All-E8 second team pick in 2023, has 30 career points on 12 goals and six assists.

Amber Piersma, Sr., F, Cassville, NY/Mount Markham - Piersma, a 2024 All-Empire 8 second team selection, led the Pioneers and was tied for eighth in the league last season with seven goals.

Final 2024 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Standings
Brockport (15-2-2, 10-1 E8, 30 points)
Geneseo (13-5-3, 8-1-2 E8, 26 points) - League Champions
St. John Fisher (11-6-2, 8-2-1 E8, 25 points)
Nazareth (11-6-3, 7-2-2 E8, 23 points)
Russell Sage (6-7-5, 5-3-3 E8, 18 points)
Alfred (7-4-6, 3-3-5 E8, 14 points)
Houghton (7-10-2, 4-6-1 E8, 13 points)
Elmira (5-10-2, 4-7-0 E8, 12 points)
Utica (5-11-2, 3-6-2 E8, 11 points)
Hartwick (4-4-8, 1-3-7 E8, 10 points)
Keuka (1-13-2, 0-9-2 E8, 2 points)
Poly (5-11-1, 0-10-1 E8 1 point)

2024 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Tournament Recap

Quarterfinals
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 8 Elmira, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 7 Houghton, 4-2 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 St. John Fisher defeated No. 6 Alfred, 1-0 (OT) – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Nazareth defeated No. 5 Russell Sage, 1-0 – BOX SCORE

Semifinals
No. 4 Nazareth tied No. 1 SUNY Brockport, 0-0 (Nazareth advances on PKs, 7-6) – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 3 St. John Fisher, 2-0 – BOX SCORE

Championship
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 4 Nazareth, 1-0 -– BOX SCORE

2024 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Juliette Frischmann, Gr., F, SUNY Geneseo